Join us for “From Stage to Society: Musicians Building a Better World,” an inspiring panel talk featuring Jenn Chang, Director of the Culture and Civil Society Initiative at Harvard; Kevin Kwan Loucks, CEO of Chamber Music America; and David Samuel, Assistant Professor of Viola at the Blair School of Music. Discover how today’s musicians are not just performers, but influential voices driving positive change and cultural progress.
Engage in a dynamic discussion about the impactful roles musicians play in shaping society and how you, as an emerging artist, are already equipped to lead and innovate. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with role models who are transforming the field of music and learn how you can amplify your voice to craft a brighter future. Mark your calendar and prepare to be inspired!
Wednesday, January 14, 2025, 12:20-1:10 p.m., Turner Recital Hall
Vanderbilt Blair School of Music | 2400 Blakemore Ave.
Admission is free | RSVP recommended
A reception with light bites will follow the program.
Seating is limited. RSVP to confirm your attendance.
Jenn Chang is a musician, educator, and strategist working at the intersections of culture and policy. She serves as the inaugural program director for the Culture and Civil Society Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership and as an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As Chief of Staff at the National Endowment for the Arts in the Biden administration, she was instrumental in designing the NEA’s $135 million American Rescue Plan grant program, laid the groundwork for ArtsHERE, the NEA’s first equity-focused grant program, and partnered with the White House on an all-of-government arts integration strategy. A graduate of Harvard College and the Juilliard School, Jenn also spent a decade at Google and worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Kevin Kwan Loucks is a distinguished arts executive, strategist, and entrepreneur with a track record of transforming organizations and shaping the performing arts nationally. As CEO of Chamber Music America, he has redefined the organization’s role in advocacy, grantmaking, and professional development. He previously held executive roles at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Music Academy of the West, where he helped transform the institution into a year-round arts incubator. A Juilliard-trained pianist and Co-Founder of Chamber Music | OC—hailed by the LA Times for “keeping classical music going” during the pandemic—he has been featured in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He serves as Chair of Fischoff’s National Advisory Council, sits on the Boards of Performing Arts Alliance and the Fast Company Executive Board, and is an at-large Corporate Member of the Aspen Music Festival and School.
David Samuel is a violist whose long-running conversation with four strings and a bow has carried him around the world as a performer, educator, and chamber musician. A native of the Great White North, he serves as Assistant Professor of Viola at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. Having previously lived in Denmark, New York, New Zealand, Norway, San Francisco, and Toronto, he performed as a member of the Alexander String Quartet, the Auckland Philharmonia, Ensemble MidtVest, and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, and Wigmore Hall—plus a late-night cameo on The Late Show with David Letterman. As a founding member of the Afiara String Quartet, Mr. Samuel and his colleagues quickly established a presence on the international chamber music scene, earning top prizes at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and the Concert Artists Guild Competition. His discography spans dozens of chamber recordings, tracing a line from repertoire mainstays to newly commissioned works.
Blair School of Music is located on the south end of the Vanderbilt campus, between 24th and 25th Avenues.
